NEW DELHI: Parliament Thu-rsday passed Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Bill, 2026, which seeks to restrict states’ powers to levy taxes on mineral rights and mineral-bearing lands. Govt said the new law doesn’t seek to interfere with the autonomy of states, but aims to ensure uniform mineral rates.Lok Sabha passed the bill Wednesday, while Rajya Sabha cleared it Thursday. While no Congress MP participated in the discussion, others in the opposition, including DMK, BJD, RJD and Left parties, raised questions on whether the law would adversely impact revenues of state govts.Replying to the debate, mines minister G Kishan Reddy said Centre was seeking to regulate major minerals such as coal, limestone, iron ore, copper and manganese, while states would continue to have powers over 49 minor minerals.Reddy alleged coal blocks allocated during UPA’s tenure were a “scam” while claiming mineral allocations over the past 12 years had been transparent. He said states’ share of mineral revenue had risen from 65% in 2014-15 to 85% now, while their share of coal revenue had increased from 51% to 96%. He said Centre receives only about 11% of mineral revenue, with 88% going to states, and asserted that no state would suffer any revenue loss.
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Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, however, announced a statewide agitation against the legislation, warning that “the entire nation will witness its scale” if Centre did not withdraw it. Kerala CM VD Satheesan also said his govt would oppose the new law, alleging the proposed changes would encroach upon powers of states over land. tnn
